A makeshift tool which is being used by teams of thieves to steal expensive cars has been recovered by police.

Up to four cars a days are vanishing from outside owner's homes in the Keighley area due to the device which is made from two bamboo cans, some sticky tape and a coat hanger

Now police are appealing to householders to hide their keys after confirming thieves are using the eight feet hooked canes to reach through people's letter boxes.

Just like a fairground hook-a-duck game they catch on to and steal their car keys and house keys.

Detective Inspector Trevor Gasson said: "We have had a spate of burglaries where people are using canes to get in through letter boxes and we have been able to apprehend one of these."

Detective Chief Inspector Roger Gasson said: "We are getting two to four of these thefts a day and it's a lot of different people are doing it.

"They are taking BMW's and Mercedes and this wouldn't be happening if people were hiding their keys. They have been targeting whole rows of houses and we need people to be aware."

The early morning break-in's are happening because people are leaving their keys on work tops in easy view and reach of criminals.

The police are not sure how the thieves have been travelling to the houses, because no one has reported seeing anybody carrying a cane.

Harden, Denholme, Silsden and Oakworth have been the worst hit areas so far.

DC Hugh Brady said: "Thieves are viewing the keys left on kitchen tables or hooks on the side of doors.

"If they are out of sight then the thieves will not know where they are. It is cars they are targeting not houses.

"They are going to homes with expensive cars early in the morning with a torch and are using the cane to hook the keys.

"The force has dealt with quite a few of these types of crimes in Keighley, they are focusing on high cost vehicles. This is increasing force wide and is affecting other parts of the country.

"The hook is made from two pieces of bamboo shoots sticky taped together with a coat hanger on the end.

"We are warning people to keep their keys out of sight, I take mine to bed with me."

l Crime figures released today by the Home Office show a 5.8 per cent drop in car crime and a 7.3 per cent cut in burglaries across West Yorkshire, but the situation in Keighley figures will now be affected by the bamboo shoot break-ins.

DCI Roger Gasson added: "Our crime figures are rocketing because of this."